What's Lewis Hamilton's road car?

05 November 2008

What car does F1 champion drive?
£20 million salary gives him pick of the range
Not as fast as you might think

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Ever wondered what car Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton drives to and from work in?

Hamilton, who's still basking in the glory of sealing the world title in the Brazilian Grand Prix last weekend, has a car that's not as fast or glamorous as you might think.

Given his driving ability, reputed £20 million a year salary and – presumably – the fact he's so in favour with his employers right now that he can take his pick of the Mercedes range, you could be forgiven for assuming Hamilton would want a range-topping SLR McLaren.

The £300,000 supercar would certainly fit the bill for an F1 ace: it can tackle 0-60mph in 3.8secs and reach a top speed of 208mph.

The car Hamilton's actually chosen, though, is a Mercedes GL-Class 4x4.

Hamilton has opted for the 320 CDI, which is powered by a 221bhp 3.0-litre V6. That's around 500bhp less than the 2.4-litre V8 in the McLaren Mercedes F1 car he races.

Explaining his choice, Hamilton said: 'At the track I always drive on the limit, but on public roads I like to relax, kick back and cruise. The GL's perfect for that.'